Boxing Swansea – Short History of Cornelius Carr
John Carr was born on April 9 1969 and quickly learned to look after himself on some of the toughest streets in Teeside. He first put on the boxing gloves at Grangetown Amateur Boxing Club and gym founder Martin Turner soon spotted his potential and took the punching prodigy under his wing. Carr became one of the nation’s leading schoolboy boxers before bursting into the senior scene in 1987. He won his England vest in a multi-nations tournament in Sardinia and took the gold against tough opposition.
Then he blasted his way to the ABA middleweight final when he was barely 18 and gave experienced international Rod Douglas a scare in a furious bout that many thought Carr had won. With an impressive 40 wins and just 3 defeats he turned pro.
He signed to Frank Warren, moved to London with the new name of Cornelius to train under Ernie Fossey.
Cornelius trimmed down to Light Middleweight and made a terrific start of 9 unbeaten bouts, his tenth fight to African Bocco George in reading was his first professional loss, but he was soon back on track, back at Middleweight and picking up the tricks of the trade, not least from a spell in the US that included some tough sparring sessions inside Louisiana State Penitentiary.
Cornelius then left the Warren Camp and went to the States for 4 months, he then came back home and teamed up with one of the best trainers in the Country Howard Rainey and went on to win British Super-Middleweight Championship and after a series of convincing wins his big chance came as he stepped back up at Super-Middleweight and was pitched in against WBO world champ Steve Collins in front of a 7000 crowd at the Point Dublin in November 1995.
After a furious bout Collins just edged out the Teesider on points but the Irishman knew it had been close and afterwards prophetically said; “Carr has got a lot of heart. He could be World Champion.”
Carr had a series of of set backs with 1 opponent pulling out of a World Title fight due to injury and then an unfortunate loss. But dogged Carr bounced back, worked his way back into contention with London based trainer Chris Hall then earned another chance with a crack at former double world welterweight champ Simon Brown for the vacant WBF crown.
But disaster struck as Brown withdrew through injury. A hasty replacement was found in Steve Foster, an experienced scrapper delighted to get the chance and determined to take it, but Carrs hunger was greater and he battled his way to the ultimate prize in a memorable night of fighting passion.
Carr sucessfully defended his crown against Dingaan Thobela, beating the South African legend on a majority decision. Unfortunately due to injury, at the top of his career Cornelius had to hang up his gloves and retire from the ring.
Professional Career Record for Cornelius Carr
| Date | Lb | Opponent | Lb | Location | Result |
| 28 Feb 2001 | Sam Soliman | TBC, Kensington, England |
L PTS 6
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| 08 Dec 2000 | Gary Beardsley | National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, England |
W PTS 4
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| 31 Oct 1999 | Dingaan Thobela | David Lloyd Club, Raynes Park, England |
W PTS 12
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| WBF World Middleweight Title | |||||
| 20 Aug 1999 | Jason Barker | Royal National Hotel, Bloomsbury, England |
W RSF 3
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| 20 Feb 1999 | Steve Foster | Pavilion, Thornaby, England |
W PTS 12
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| WBF World Middleweight Title | |||||
| 25 Nov 1998 | Jimmy Vincent | Ceasars Nightclub, Streatham, England |
W PTS 6
|
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| 27 Oct 1998 | Danny Juma | Fountain Leisure Centre, Brentford, England |
W PTS 6
|
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| 10 Sep 1998 | Darren Covill | Town Hall, Acton, England |
W TD 2
|
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| 14 Mar 1997 | Dean Francis | TBC, Reading, England |
L RSF 7
|
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| WBO Intercontinental Title | |||||
| 02 Mar 1996 | Danny Juma | TBC, Newcastle, England |
W PTS 8
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| 25 Nov 1995 | 167.5 | Steve Collins | 167.75 | The Point, Dublin, Ireland |
L UPTS 12
|
| WBO Title | |||||
| 07 Jul 1995 | Barry Thorogood | Ice Palace, Cardiff, Wales |
W RSF 6
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| 13 May 1995 | Chris Richards | Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland |
W RTD 3
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| 04 Feb 1995 | Colin Manners | National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales |
W PTS 8
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| 11 Mar 1994 | James Cook | York Hall, Bethnal Green, England |
W PTS 12
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| British Title | |||||
| 22 Sep 1993 | Horace Fleary | TBC, Wembley, England |
W PTS 8
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| 19 May 1993 | Stan King | TBC, Sunderland, England |
W PTS 8
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| 24 Apr 1993 | Graham Burton | TBC, Birmingham, England |
W PTS 6
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| 29 Oct 1992 | Alan Richards | TBC, Bayswater, England |
W PTS 8
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| 06 Sep 1991 | Marvin O`Brien | TBC, Salemi, Italy |
W RSF 7
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| 18 May 1991 | Paul Burton | Pallazzo dello Sport, Verbania, Italy |
W RSF 3
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| 02 Mar 1991 | Carlo Colarusso | TBC, Darlington, England |
W PTS 8
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| 16 Feb 1991 | Frank Eubanks | Pavilion, Thornaby, England |
W RSF 5
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| 27 Oct 1990 | Jerry Nestor | TBC, Greenville, United States |
W KO 1
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| 26 Sep 1990 | John Maltreaux | TBC, New Orleans, United States |
W KO 1
|
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| 21 Apr 1990 | Franki Moro | Crowtree Leisure Centre, Sunderland, England |
W PTS 8
|
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| 20 Feb 1990 | Peter Gorny | London Arena, Millwall, England |
W RSF 4
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| 24 Oct 1989 | Carlo Colarusso | TBC, Watford, England |
W RTD 4
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| 22 Mar 1989 | George Bocco | TBC, Reading, England |
L RSF 3
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| 20 Dec 1988 | Kevin Hayde | TBC, Swansea, Wales |
W PTS 6
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| 15 Nov 1988 | Skip Jackson | TBC, Norwich, England |
W KO 1
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| 10 May 1988 | Andy Catesby | TBC, Tottenham, England |
W RSF 5
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| 12 Apr 1988 | Franki Moro | TBC, Cardiff, Wales |
W PTS 6
|
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| 29 Mar 1988 | Darren Parker | York Hall, Bethnal Green, England |
W RSF 1
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| 24 Mar 1988 | 155 | Darren Parker | 158 | York Hall, Bethnal Green, England |
W RSF 1
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| 27 Jan 1988 | Kesem Clayton | York Hall, Bethnal Green, England |
W PTS 6
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| 12 Jan 1988 | Shamus (Seamus) Casey | TBC, Cardiff, Wales |
W RSF 6
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| 28 Nov 1987 | Dave Heaver | TBC, Windsor, England |
W RSF 2
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| 22 Sep 1987 | Paul Burton | York Hall, Bethnal Green, England |
W RSF 5
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